“GÜNSEL”, the domestic automobile of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is coming to Türkiye to meet enthusiasts at the “MÜSİAD Expo 2020” fair to be organized by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) at the TÜYAP İstanbul Fair and Congress Centre on 18-21 November 2020.

The launch of B9, GÜNSEL's first model, produced within Near East University by more than 100 Turkish engineers and designers with 1.2 million hours of work, took place in the TRNC on 20 February 2020. MÜSİAD Expo 2020 will be the first event GÜNSEL takes part in outside the TRNC after its launch.

The first prototypes of B9, the first model of the 100 percent electric automobile GÜNSEL, were produced in yellow, blue and red, the colours symbolizing the soil, the sky and the flag of the TRNC. GÜNSEL, which will take part in the fair with the three B9 prototypes produced, will also present the design concept of its second model, J9, to automobile enthusiasts.

GÜNSEL Is Ready for a Test Drive

Two B9s and the full-scale design model of the J9 will be exhibited at GÜNSEL's stand. The third B9 will be ready outside the fair area for test drives by members of the press and sector representatives. The battery, one of the most important parts of the electric automobile, will also be exhibited at the GÜNSEL stand. Information will be given about the design and the features of the battery, which was designed by GÜNSEL engineers.

The first design concept of GÜNSEL, whose design work was accelerated in 2016, was exhibited at the “MÜSİAD Expo” in the same year and attracted intense interest from visitors. After a three-year interval, GÜNSEL will take part in the same fair with prototypes ready for test drives. The production capacity of GÜNSEL, whose serial production will begin in the last quarter of 2021, will reach 30,000 vehicles a year in 2025.

GÜNSEL Chairman of the Board of Directors Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “We Are Experiencing the Happiness of Bringing GÜNSEL Together with Our Motherland.”

GÜNSEL Chairman of the Board of Directors Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel recalled that when they first voiced aloud their dreams of producing an automobile in the TRNC by taking part in MÜSİAD Expo in 2016, they were met with great interest. Prof. Dr. Günsel said, “That interest enabled us to feel the moral support of our Türkiye alongside us on the road we set out on. Only three years later, we stand before you again with our vehicles that have turned from design into reality.”

Sharing his assessments on GÜNSEL being tested in Türkiye for the first time, Prof. Dr. Günsel said, “From design to R&D, from technology to engineering, we experience with all our heart the honour, the pride and the happiness of being able to share GÜNSEL, which we turned into reality all together, as one body and one heart, with great faith, working day and night, with our nation, our homeland and our motherland.”

MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan: “TOGG and GÜNSEL Will Be the Global Faces of the Turkic World.”

Recalling that “GÜNSEL”, the domestic automobile of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, was first unveiled at the MÜSİAD EXPO Fair held in 2016, MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan expressed his satisfaction that GÜNSEL's first test drives in Türkiye will again be held at MÜSİAD EXPO.

Kaan also stated that, besides ensuring that automobiles which are largely imported are produced domestically, he expects both TOGG and GÜNSEL, as the global faces of the Turkic world, to make a serious contribution to the countries' economies, chiefly in exports and employment.

GÜNSEL IN FIGURES

GÜNSEL B9 is a 100 percent electric automobile. The vehicle, which can travel 350 kilometres on a single charge, was produced by bringing together a total of 10,936 parts. The vehicle's motor has 140 kW of power. The speed limit of GÜNSEL B9, which can reach 100 km/h in 8 seconds, has been electronically limited to 170 km/h. The battery of GÜNSEL B9 can be charged in only 30 minutes with high-speed charging. If fast charging is used, this period is 4 hours.The number of employees of GÜNSEL, on which more than 100 engineers and designers spent 1.2 million hours of work during the development process, has reached 166. This number, which will increase rapidly once serial production begins, will exceed one thousand in 2025.

Agreements were signed with more than 800 suppliers from 28 countries for the production of GÜNSEL B9. GÜNSEL has thus made an important contribution to the TRNC, which is not recognized by any country other than Türkiye, becoming part of the global economy.

GÜNSEL's second model, J9, will be produced in the SUV segment. The design concept of J9, which has likewise been designed as 100 percent electric, will also be presented for visitors' appreciation at MÜSİAD Expo 2020.

Electric automobiles are increasing their weight in the world automotive market with each passing year. In 2018 the number of electric automobiles sold worldwide was 2 million. Electric automobile sales, which are expected to reach 10 million in 2025, are projected to reach 28 million in 2030 and 56 million in 2040. In 2040 electric automobiles will capture 57 percent of the automotive market.